How to Make a Kitchen Worm Bin

Red worms help turn waste into rich compost.

Composting with worms, also called "vermicomposting," is easy and nearly free. Not only do you enjoy the benefit of reducing your kitchen waste that goes into the garbage, but you'll also end up with rich, fertile compost that can feed your garden plants. You don't need a lot of space or even a yard for worm composting. All you need is a small plastic bin that can remain in your house to compost your kitchen scraps. When you take proper care of your worm bin, it won't emit any foul odors or attract fruit flies and other pests.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic storage container with lid
• Electric drill
• Drill bit, ¼ inch
• Newspaper, potting soil or leaves
• Food scraps
• Red worms, at least 1 lb.
• Water spray bottle

Instructions

1. Drill 10 or more ¼-inch-diameter holes into the storage bin lid, using an electric drill and appropriate-size drill bit. Create 10 more holes around the upper sides of the plastic bin to provide air ventilation for the worms.

2. Line the bottom of the bin with 8 inches of thoroughly moistened newspaper shredded into 1-inch-wide strips to provide a bedding material for the worms. Also use moist potting soil or leaves as bedding material.

3. Rinse off your kitchen scraps. Add the kitchen scraps to the worm bin and bury them beneath some of the bedding material.

4. Add the worms to the bin, using about 1 lb. of worms per 1 square foot of surface area in the bin. Use red worms like the species Lumbricus rubellus or Eisenia fetida and not garden worms or night crawlers.

5. Cover the bin with the lid and store it in a dark place, such as under your kitchen sink. Keep the bedding material moist by spraying it with water two or three times per week.

6. Add more kitchen food scraps to the worm bin when the worms have nearly processed the scraps already in the bin. Always bury the scraps in the bedding material.

Tips & Warnings

• The storage container should be made of dark-colored plastic and have a lid. The plastic storage bin should be at least 12 inches square and no deeper than 12 inches.

• Feed the worms fresh vegetable and fruit scraps, used coffee grounds and filters, tea bags with the staples removed, plants and flowers, paper napkins, and egg shells. Avoid feeding your worms cooked food scraps, meats, dairy or fish.

• Remove the processed worm compost when it begins to look like crumbly, dark soil, which usually takes one to four months. Add fresh bedding to the worm bin when you remove the finished compost.

• Don't leave food scraps on top of the bedding material, because this will attract fruit flies and make it difficult for the worms to process the scraps. Also, don't add too many food scraps to the bin, or allow the scraps to mold or rot in the bin.

References

• New York City Compost Project: How to Compost

Resources

• Washington State University Whatcom County Extension: Cheap and Easy Worm Bin